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LONDON - Manchester United beat Derby County 1-0 at Pride Park to go top of the Premier League, at least until Arsenal played Middlesbrough later on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal after 76 minutes to take United to 67 points, one ahead of Arsenal who kicked off against Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium at 1715 GMT.
Derby, bottom of the table with only one league win all season and beaten 6-1 at Chelsea on Wednesday, offered far tougher resistance than United expected and Ben Foster, making his debut in the United goal, had a busy afternoon.
United finally broke through when Wayne Rooney passed for Ronaldo who sidefooted home past former United keeper Roy Carroll for his 31st goal of the season.
"That was one of our hardest games of the season," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports News.
"It became a real battle and all credit to them - and their crowd was great, but we're delighted to have the three points. The title race is bubbling up nicely."
Chelsea maintained their title challenge with a narrow away victory of their own, winning 1-0 at Sunderland with John Terry grabbing the only goal after 10 minutes, his first of the season. Chelsea stay third on 64 points.
Fourth-placed Liverpool came from behind to beat Reading 2-1 at Anfield with goals from Javier Mascherano, his first for the club, and Fernando Torres, his 20th in the league this season.
Marek Matejovsky had put Reading ahead after five minutes with a searing 20-metre volley, but a promising afternoon ended on a sour note for the visitors when striker Shane Long threw his shirt at manager Steve Coppell after being substituted.
Portsmouth moved above Aston Villa into sixth place after beating them 2-0 at Fratton Park, while West Ham United came from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Upton Park.
Jermaine Defoe and an own goal from Nigel Reo-Coker in the first half secured the points for Portsmouth, but both teams finished with 10 men after Pompey's Sulley Muntari and Villa's Olof Mellberg were sent off late in the game after picking up two yellow cards.
West Ham ended a run of three straight 4-0 defeats with their victory. Teenage substitute Freddie Sears headed the winner in the closing stages on his debut.
- REUTERS
